By Sydney Lowe ’24, Keilah Brewer ’26

Welcome to the 44th edition of The Writing Anthology – now known as Synaptic. Founded in 1981 by now-retired Central College professor Dr. Walter Cannon, Synaptic provides an annual assemblage of remarkable student work that covers a wide array of academic disciplines. This year presented even more variety of works from presentations, to musical compositions and more that provided us with ample selection. Following a review and conference over dozens of outstanding works, our team has selected the following pieces for publication.

By Winona Van Berkum ’26, Leighia VanDam ’22

The Ioway and the Otoe were here before recorded time, as were the Omaha and Ponca, moving to new lands before white settlers arrived. The Pawnee used this land for hunting grounds, and the Sioux, Sauk, and Meskwaki were here long before colonization. Let us remember that we occupy their homeland and that this land was taken by force.

By Alex Gast ’26

“I’m sorry son, there’s just no way around it. We need to ask you a few more questions. You need to come back to the station when your round’s over.” Kurt read the lanky white letters of his father’s text message in a numb sort of trance, then shoved his phone back into his bag. He exhaled strongly, flared his nostrils, and thrust his feet into the moist earth.

By Kenyon Geetings ’24

In the field of botany, there exists a group of arboreal wonders that captivate both the scientist and the dreamer alike. Among these, the Salix babylonica, commonly known as the weeping willow, stands as an emblem of enchantment. Its scientific name, a poetic melody in itself, conceals a world of mystery and fascination waiting to be unveiled.

By Carter Piagentini ’25

I often hear this idea that poets can see the intricacies of every little thing in life. And although there is definitely some truth in this sentiment—after all, William Wordsworth was able to compose 162 lines about a single place in “Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey”—I would also argue that the word intricacies often gets conflated with beauties. It is true that I can see the intricacies of mundane objects, but it is fallacious to say that these intricacies are always beautiful or pretty.

By Kenyon Geetings ’24

In the heartland’s embrace, where fields stretch wide, / Along Highway 102, where the winds confide, / There, amidst the whispers of the prairie breeze, / A tale unfolds, spun in the threads of ditches, if you please.

By Jessie Pospisil ’25

Mattress toppers have recently become my worst enemy. Mine in particular, has become more of a mattress slip-and-slide than a topper, and the worst part is that I can’t just take it off and chuck it out the window. I need it in order to find the slightest bit of comfort in my slim stack of a college mattress. The best part? My bed is bunked. Each morning, I wake up and slide straight off, tumble down the ladder, and bust the arches of my feet as I plunk to the floor.

By Amelia Brown ’25

At the beginning, the song starts in D major with a more regal or stately feel. Soon, it begins to take on more character as it develops, moves into the B section, and evolves into the relative minor. Coming back to the A section at measure 35 it further develops into a playful rhythmic gesture around measure 40. The student finishes the coda at the end of the “Musical Magnum Opus” in style.

By Kelsea Hurley ’23

As one of the most influential forms of popular culture in the world today, hip-hop represents a type of cultural expression that combats these injustices and stereotypes that have been formed about what it is like to be Black in America. Hip-hop has influenced an entire generation to form a strong distrust for the criminal justice system because of how it systematically targets Black Americans. Artists evoke the history of oppression through the language and song of hip-hop to try and make the listeners see the truth behind this horrible reality (Dutra, 2020). It is very important to recognize that the connection between hip-hop and the lived experiences of the youth of color makes it an especially useful cultural tool to analyze and critique their world and the social forces that impact them (Graves et al., 2020).

By Cheyne Plants ’27

America’s past is not a sight for sore eyes, but in fact, is one sight that can cause sore eyes. Our flag of stars and stripes has been stained with blood, torn by strife, and burnt by fury. Our landscape has been marked by the fallen brave plundered by injustices. I believe part of the reason why we Americans remain so proud of our country is that, because of the trials of past mistakes, we have become stronger as a nation.

By Cera Stroh ’24

El estilo artístico de Quan de la exageración y el uso de los elementos cómicos proveen una narrativa visual atractiva e íntima de su relación con su madre y el impacto en su vida. El lector puede ver la perspectiva de Quan específicamente a través de la deshumanización del aspecto de Mamá Zhou, las reacciones de Quan acerca de la atención de su madre, y el uso posterior de rasgos realistas y suaves al representar su madre.

By Gabriella Petruzzello ’24

Ethical communication requires a broad consideration for the individualized needs of every person, regardless of their physical characteristics or cognitive abilities. Neurodiversity is a newly explored area of ethical communication that emphasizes how we can enhance communication for individuals with autism, ADHD, and other neurodiverse individuals. Changing the communication landscape to become more inclusive to people with differing levels of cognitive abilities and perspectives is critical to cultivating a more welcoming and productive workplace.

By Emma Garrett ’25

It was August 3, 2023. After a hard-fought win over Columbia in the FIFA World Cup, the Morocco Women’s national soccer team waits on the field, huddled around a few phones here and there. They were watching the closing minutes of the South Korea v. Germany game, which would determine if they moved on to the Round of 16. Suddenly, shouts of excitement can be heard from the field, the Moroccan women are seen embracing each other, and their coach is in tears as he runs around hugging his players. It is moments like these that sports enthusiasts live for, a true underdog story.

By Carter Piagentini ’25

The phrase “eat the rich” has become a contemporary colloquialism with etymology typically tracing to famous French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau’s quote: “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich.” And, although Rousseau likely used “the rich” to refer to any form of power, many nowadays echo this phrase to denounce capitalistic antagonism between the powerful aristocracy and the poor proletariat. This pervasive enmity between the classes is epitomized in Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel The Hound of the Baskervilles.

By Various Artists

Imagery from Gunner Hutton ’25, Callie Clark ’23, Kaylee Peiffer ’25, Fynn Wadsworth ’25, Lauren Husz ’26, Sophie Kruger ’24, Madilynn Peitzman ’25, Rachel Barton ’26, Amelia Brown ’25 and more.